Rotary jar



Oct. 8, 1935. l. J. MGCULLOUGH 2,016,607

ROTARYIJAR Filed May 22, 1935 Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE ROTARY JAR Calif.

Application May 22, 1933, Serial No. 672,165

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a well tool, and relatesl more particularly toa rotary jar. A general object of the invention is to provide a simple,practical and eiective jarring tool for effecting 5 a jarring action ina well bore'.

An object of the invention is to provide a jarring tool that is operableby a simple, longitudinal strain on the string of tools in which it isassembled, to impart a jarring action to an object in a well bore.

Another object of the invention is to provide a jarring tool in whichthe jarring action is .not reduced or dampened by fluid trapped betweenthe jarring or impact parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotatably jar thatincludes two open slackly linked sections and means for holding thesections against relative movement that is releasable by a heavy tensilestrain on the sections. 20 Another object of the invention is to providea novel and improved jarring tool construction including two sectionsslackly linked together in a manner so that iluid cannot be trappedbetween the impact parts when the tool is actuated. 2 Another object ofthe invention is to provide a jarring tool of the character mentionedincluding a practical and effective means vfor releasably holding thesections against relative longitudinal movement that is releasable by aheavy tensile strain on the sections and that may be adjusted to releaseunder tensile strains of different intensities.

It is another object of the invention to provide a jarring tool of thecharacter mentioned` in which the parts of the releasable holding meansthat are subjected to hard usage or wear may be easily and inexpensivelyreplaced.

It is another ,object of the invention to provide a jarring tool of thecharacter mentioned that does not interfere with the flow of circulationfluid through the operating string or fishing string in which the toolis connected.

Other objects and features of the invention may be better and more fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typical form andapplication of the invention, throughout which description reference ishad to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a central longitudinal detailed sectional view of the upperportion of thetool provided bythe invention, illustrating the parts inthe latched or unactuated positions. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinaldetailed sectional view of the lower portion of the tool. Fig. 3 is afragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a portion (Cl. Z55-27) of thetool showing the parts in the tripped o-r actuated positions andillustrating the stem in elevation. Fig. 4 is a transverse detailedsectional view taken as indicated by line 4 4 on Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6are transverse detailed seo- 5f slackly linked or connected together forlimited relative longitudinal movement, and are adapted to be connectedin an operating string or fishing string of drill pipe, or the like. Inthe particular arrangement of the device illustrated in the drawing, thesection A is the upper section of the body, while the section B is thelower body section, it being understood that the tool may be inverted ifdesired. The upper section A is provided at its upper end with a sub orconnecting member I0 for facilitating connection with the operatingstring or shing string. A socket II is provided in the upper end of themember I0 for receiving the threaded pin' I2 of a part of the string.The section A is an elongate member or structure including a tubularportion I3 for containing or housing the means C and a link portion I4for connecting with the section B. The sub or connecting member is IIJscrew-threaded into the upper end of the tubular portion I3. Thelongitudinal opening I5 in the tubular portion I3 is comparatively largein diameter and terminates at its lower end in an upwardly facingshoulder I6.

The link portion I4 of the section A projects downwardly from the lowerend of the tubular portion I3, and in the form of the invention beingdescribed, is integral with the portion I3. The link portion I4 of thesection A has two flat parallel sides and a longitudinally elongatedtransverse opening thereby consisting of two spaced longitudinallyextending parts I 1., and a transverse end part I8 connecting the partsI'I. The inner sides I9 of the longitudinal parts I1 are flat andparallel, while the outer sides of the parts I1 may be flush with orform continuations of the tubular portion I 3. The transverse end partI8 is 50 preferably comparatively heavy and intergral with thelongitudinal parts I`I. The side parts or longitudinal parts I'I of thelink portion I4 are preferably comparatively long as illustrated in Fig.2 o 65 the drawine- The lower body section B is adapted to be connectedwith the fish or object to be jarred, and is provided at its lower endwith suitable means for connecting with a fishing tool, or the like. Inthe particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, apin 22 is provided 0n the lower end of the section B and is threadedinto a socket 23 in a connecting member` or tool. The upper end portionof the section B is in the nature of a link portion slackly connectedwith the link portion I4 of the section A. A vertically elongatedtransverse opening 24 is provided in the link portion of the section Bto receive the transverse part I8 of the section A. The opening 24 hasnat vertical sides adapted to cooperate with the sides of the part I8when rotational strains are transmitted through the sections A and B.The upper or link portion of the section B has two flat parallel sides25 substantially normal to the flat vertical sides of the opening 24.The upper end wall 23 of the opening 24 is fiat and normal to thelongitudinal axis of the tool and is adapted to be struck by the upperend 20 of the part I8 when the means C is released, while the lower wallof the opening 251 is at and is adapted to be engaged by the lower end2| of the part I8 to limit downward movement of the section A relativeto the section B. The opening 24 is preferably comparatively long toprovide for substantial relative longitudinal movement of the sections Aand B. In accordance with the invention, the opening 24 is spaced somedistance below the upper end of the section B and the sides 25 of theupper end portion of the section B are adapted to slidably cooperatewith the inner walls I9 of the parts Il in the manner illustrated inFig. 5 of the drawing.

The inner corners 21 of the parts Il and the spaced longitudinal partsof the section B may be cut away to provide substantial spaces for thefree outlet of fluid so that the fluid cannot be trappedv between thelinked parts and interfere with the jarring action. It will be apparenthow the linked parts described above connect the sections A and B forlimited longitudinal movement and operate to dependably transmit heavyrotational strains in both directions.

The linked parts of the sections A and B may be assembled in anysuitable manner. In one manner of assembling the sections the uppertransverse part of the section B is arranged between the side parts ofthe section A and the transverse part I8 is built up by welding. Thepart IB may be built up around a central vertical sleeve 59 and may beintegrally joined with the side parts I1.

The means C is contained or housed within the tubular portion |3 of thesection A and is operable to hold the sections A and B against relativelongitudinal movement when they are in the contracted position where theshoulder 25 is spaced from the upper wall 26 of the opening 24, and isreleasable by a heavy tensile strain on the sections to permit the face20 to come into jarring engagement with the face 26 to impart a jarringaction to the fish or object connected with the section B. Thereleasable holding means C includes a mandrel or stem 28 connected withthe section B and extending upwardly into the opening I5 of the sectionA. The stem 28 projects from the upper end of the section B and slidablypasses through a vertical opening 29 in the section A to extend into theYopening I5. The stem 28 may be integral with the section B, however, inthe particular case illustrated in the drawing, the stem 28 is threadedinto a socket 30 in the upper end of the section B.

The releasable holding means C includes a plurality oi clutch members orlatch members 3| for cooperating with the stem 28. The members 5 3| aremounted within the tubular portion I3 on a yieldable member 32. Theyieldable member 32 is in the nature of a tubular block surrounding thestem 28 and resting on the shoulder I6. The member 32 is integral and isof corrugated longil0 tudinal cross section so as to be yieldable or.compressible under heavy compression strains. A plurality oflongitudinally spaced annular internal grooves 33 and a multiplicity ofspaced annular external grooves 34 are provided in the tubul5 lar member32. The sets or series of grooves 33 and 34 are longitudinally staggeredor offset and are formed sufliciently deep to overlap one another. Thegrooves 33 and 34 render the member 32 compressible under heavy strains.The latch 2O members 3l are elongate and are of arcuate hori- Zontalcross section. The members 3| are supported on the member 32 havingtheir lower ends resting on the upper end of the member 32. In theparticular form of the invention illustrated 25 in the drawing there aresix like latch members 3|. It has been found practical to form the latchmembers 3| by dividing a ring or comparatively heavy tube into six equallongitudinal parts.

In accordance with the invention, the latch mezn- 30 bers 3| are formedand proportioned to have limited tilting movement so as to be shiftableinto and out of holding cooperation with the stem 28. The inner andouter sides of the members 3| converge upwardly as illustrated in Fig. lof the 35 drawing so that the members may have the necessary tiltingmovement.

The invention provides projecting parts or teeth 35 on the latch members3| for cooperating with or meshing with teeth 38 on the stem 28. 40 Theteeth 36 on the stem 23 are formed by a plurality of spaced annulargrooves 3l. The teeth 35 of the members 3| are progressively shorterfrom the upper ends of the members downwardly and the grooves 3l arelikewise progressively shal- 45 lower from the upper end of the seriesof grooves downwardly to permit the proper or full meshing of the teeth35 and 35 when the members 3| are tilted inwardly as illustrated in Fig.l. The teeth 35 and 36 are formed so as to cause outward 50 shifting ortilting of the members 3| when the teeth are in mesh and the sections Aand B are under a tensile strain. The cooperating sides of the teeth 35and 35 are inclined or outwardly convergent to cause the tilting of themembers 3|. 55 The teeth 36 of the stem 28 are related to the teeth 35so that the sections A and B are in the contracted positions when theteeth are in mesh.

The means C includes a control for governing the disengagement" of theteeth 35 from the teeth 60 36 and for permitting the resetting of thetool for further actuation. A longitudinal sleeve 48 surrounds the upperportion of the stem 28 and is provided at its lower end with an annularflange 4| adapted to surround the upper end 55 portions of the latchmembers 3| to hold the teeth of' the members in cooperation with theteeth 33. The lower end of ange 4| is inclined downwardly and outwardlyto cooperate with the upper ends of the members 3| when the tool is 70being reset as will be subsequently described. The sleeve 40 is normallyyieldingly held in the position illustrated in the drawing so that itsflange 4I holds the sections 3| in cooperation with 4the stem 28. A nut42 is screw threaded 75 into the tubular portion |3 of the section A anda helical spring 43 is arranged under compression between the nut 42 anda shoulder 44 on the sleeve 48 to normally yieldingly urge the sleevedownwardly. A stop flange 45 -on the sleeve 4D is adapted to engage thenut 42' to limit downward movement of the sleeve. A set screw 46 may beprovided to lock or set the nut 42 in position. The releasable holdingmeans C may be adjusted to release under tensile strains of differentintensities by threading or adjustment of the nut 42 which adjusts thesleeve 40 in the section A. When the teeth 35 and 36 are in mesh and thesections A and B are put under a tensile strain, the strain istransmitted from the section A to the section B through the yieldablemember 32 and the members 3|. The member 32 yields under this strain andwhen a pre-determined strain is put on the tool the member 32 compressessufficiently to allow the section A to move upwardly relative to thesection B so that the flange 4| moves out of engagement with the members3| and the cooperation between the inclined ends of the teeth causes themembers 3| to tilt outwardly and disengage the teeth so that the sectionA may suddenly and forcibly move upwardly relative to the section B tobring the upper end 20 of the part |8 into jarring engagement with theface 2B. It will be apparent 1 that longitudinal adjustment oi thesleeve 4| in the section A by threading oi' the nut i2 adjusts the meansC so that it may release under different tensile strains.

'Ihe invention includes means for handling circulation fluid. A centrallongitudinal opening 58 is provided in the member I8 and is inlongitudinal alignment with a fluid passage 5| in the member on thelower end of the fishing or operating string. The stem 28 is tubular,having a central longitudinal fluid passage 52 and a wash pipe 53 isthreaded into an enlargement in the upper end of the. passage 52 and isslidable in the opening 50. The wash pipe 53 is sufficiently long toextend completely through the opening 5D when the sections A and B arein the extended positions and normally projects into the opening 5| asillustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Means is provided for sealing orpacking about the wash pipe 53. An enlargement or socket 54 is-proivided at the upper end of the opening and carries packing 55 forsealing about the wash pipe 53. A nut or gland 56 is threaded into thesocket 54 to compress the packing. A central longitudinal fluid passage51 extends through the lower portion of the section B and a wash pipe 58is screw-threaded into its upper end and extends upwardly through theopening 24. The sleeve 59 in the transverse part I8 freely passes thewash pipe 58. The wash pipe 58 extends upwardly through an opening 60 inthe upper portion of the section B and its upper end is received in arecess in the end of the stem 28. Packing @I is provided in the lowerend of the socket 38 for sealing about the wash pipe 58 and iscompressed by the lower end of the stem 28 which is threaded into thesocket 30.

In operation the parts of the tool are normally in the positionsillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. Circulation fluid may becontinuously circulated downwardly through the operating string orfishing string and the tool. When it is desired to actuate the jarringtool to impart a jarring action to the fish or object connected with thesection B, a heavy upward or tensile strain is put on the string. Thetensile strain is transmitted from the section A to the section Bthrough the yieldable member 32 and the latch members 3| whose teeth 35are in mesh with the teeth 36 on the stem 28. The

memberV 32 yields under the strain to which it is `5 subjected, and whena heavy tensile strain has been put on the tool, the member 32 yieldssufficiently to allow the flange 4| to move upwardly out of holdingengagement with the members 3|. Upon the flange 4| moving out ofcooperation 10 with the members 3|, the bevelled sides of the teeth 35and 36 cause the members 4| to be pivoted or tilted outwardly so thatthe teeth 35 are moved out of mesh with the teeth 36 and the section Ais permitted to suddenly move up- 15 wardly relative to the section BAto bring the upper end 28 of the part i8 into jarring engagement withthe face 26. In practice, the heavy tensile strain required vto trip oractuate the tool stretches the fishing string or operating 20 string ofdrill pipe to a substantial extent, and

the resiliency of the stretched or elongated string is utilized toproduce the jarring action or blow when the means C is released.

The relative movement between the sections A 25 and B upon release ofthe means C is not retarded or dampened by circulation fluid trappedbetween the jarring or impact parts. The .opening 24 through which thepart moves when the tool is actuated has free communication with thewell 30 bore at all times so that the fluid in the opening may freelycirculate or discharge into the well bore. The releasable holdingmeans Cmay be readily adjusted by adjusting the threaded nut 42 which causeslongitudinal adjustment of the 35 l sleeve 40 in the section A. Byadjusting the sleeve 48 in this manner the tool may be made to releaseunder tensile strains of .different intensities. The tool may be easilyand quickly reset by lowering the operating string or by permitting 40the string to settle to bring the part I8 into engagement with the lowerend of the opening 28 which aligns the teeth 35 with the grooves 31.During this lowering of the section A, the inclined end of the flange 4|comes into engagement with 45,

the upper ends of the members 3| and the spring 43 is forced to yield.The inclined end of the fiange 4| insures the proper meshing of theteeth 35 with the teeth 36 and permits the upper end portions of themembers 3| to pass within the 50 flange 4|. The tool is operable totransmit rotational strains in both directions, and is operable by asimple longitudinal strain to produce an effective jarring action.

Having described only a typical form and ap- 55 plication of myinvention, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form orapplication herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself anyvariations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the artor fall within the scope of 60 the following claims.

Having described my invention, I cl-aim:

1. A jarring tool including, two sections, each section having an openlink portion, the link portions connecting the sections for limitedrelative longitudinal movement, a tubular portion on one sectionintegral with its link portion, means in said tubular portion forholding the sections against relative longitudinal movement releasableby a strain on the sections, and means for conducting circulation fluidlongitudinally through the sections.

2. A jarring tool including, two sections, each section including twospaced longitudinal parts, and spaced transverse parts connecting thelongitudinal parts, the sections being linked together so that atransverse part of one is shiftable longitudinally between thelongitudinal parts of the other, the adjacent edges of the longitudinalparts being spaced whereby the spaces between said parts of the sectionsare open to the exteriors of the sections, means for conductingcirculation fiuid longitudinally through the sections, and means forholding the sections ag-ainst relative longitudinal movement releasableby -a strain on the sections.

3. A rotary jarring tool including, two sections, each section includingtwo spaced longitudinal parts, and spaced transverse parts connectingthe longitudinal parts, the sections being linked together so that atransverse part of one is shift-able longitudinally between thelongitudinal parts of the other, one section including a tubularportion, a stem on the other section eXtending into the tubular portion,and means in the tubular portion for cooperating with the stem to holdthe sections against relative longitudinal movement and releasable by astrain on the sections, the sections having ducts for conducting iluidlongitudinally through them.

fi. A jarrinfj tool including, two sections, one section having anelongated transverse opening, the other section including two spacedlongitudinal parts, and a transverse part connecting the longitudinalparts and extending through said opening, the transverse part beinglongitudinally shiftable in the opening whereby the sections areconnected for relative longitudinal movement, means for conductingcirculation fluid longitudinally through the sections, and meansforholding the sections -against relative longitudinal movementreleasable by a strain on the sections.

5. A jarring tool including, two sections, one section having anelongated transverse opening, the other section including two spacedlongitudi nal parts, and a transverse part connecting the longitudinalparts and extending through said transverse opening, the transverse partbeing longitudinally shiftable in the opening whereby the sections areconnected for relative longitudinal movement, the said opening beingopen at the exteriors of the sections, the transverse part having anopening, a pipe extending through said transverse opening and throughthe last mentioned opening to conduct uid longitudinally through. thesections, and means for holding the sections against relativelongitudinal movement releasable by a strain on the sections.

6. A jarring tool including, two sections each section comprising,spaced longitudinal parts, and spaced transverse parts extending betweenthe longitudinal parts, the sections being linked together so'that atransverse'part of one is shiftable longitudinally between thelongitudinal parts of the other, means for conducting circulation fluidlongitudinally through the sections, and

means for holding the sections against relative 5 longitudinal movementreleasable by a longitudinal strain on the sections, a transverse Vpartof one section being operable to strike against a transverse part of theother section to provide the jarring action upon the release of theholding 1o means.

7. A jarring tool including, two sections, one section having anelongated transverse opening, the other section including two spacedlongitudinal parts, and a transverse part connecting the 15 longitudinalparts and extending through said opening, the transverse part beinglongitudinally shiftable in the opening whereby the sections areconnected for relative longitudinal movement, one section being tubularand receiving a stem on 20 the other section, and means in the tubularsection for cooperating with the stem to hold the sections againstrelative longitudinal movement releasable from the stem by a tensilestrain on the sections, said means including a tiltable latch z5 memberfor engaging the stem, and control means governing the engagement of themember and stem.

8. A jarring tool including, two sections, one section having anelongated transverse opening, 3.0 the other section including two spacedlongitudinal parts, and a transverse part connecting thelongitudinalparts and extending through said opening, the transversepart being longitudinally shiftable in the opening whereby the sectionsare $5 connected for relative longitudinal movement, one section havinga tubular portion, a fluid conducting stem on the other sectionextending into the tubular portion, and means in the tubular portion forcooperating with the stem to hold the 4@ sections against relativelongitudinal movement releasableV from the stem by a tensile strain onthe sections.

9. A jarring tool including, two sections, one section having 4anelongated transverse opening, 5 the other section including two spacedlongitudinal parts, and a transverse part connecting the longitudinalparts and extending through said opening, the transverse part beinglongitudinally shiftable in the opening whereby the sections are 50connected for relative longitudinal movement, means for holding thesections against relative longitudinal movement releasable by alongitudinal strain on the sections, and means for adjusting said meansto release under strains of diieru ent intensities.

IRA J. MCCULLOUGH.

